A must have for listeners who like intelligent music

I got this album for one song, the commercially successful "In Your Eyes" and found that I had purchased a gem. This album is definitely in the top 5 albums that I own.



The melodies in the songs are not subtle, they do take some time to get used to but once used to them they are amazing and beautiful. The lyrics are well written and arranged flawlessly.



The only two songs that I am not huge on are "We Do What We're Told" and "This Is The Picture". I'm sure a lot of people would enjoy them but I find them a bit hard to listen to after the rest of the album(on my copy they are tracks #8 and #9, unlike the order Amazon has).



"Sledgehammer" is a great song but I can't listen to it without seeing the clay-mation music video in my mind. In my opinion the three best tracks on this album are "Red Rain", "In Your Eyes" and "Mercy Street".



Looking back on this purchase I would have spend a lot more than what I did knowing that this album is as good as it is. It never gets old. Put this album in and put it on repeat :)

Commercial success.

After flirting with commercial success through his first several albums and having several modest hits, Peter Gabriel finally broke into the commercial consciousness.



"Security" began to open up the fears and paranoias on "Peter Gabriel 3"-- yeah, it had some of that, but it emphasized the world elements and introduced a somber, reflective side to the dense, dark music on "3". And it also introduced a funky, modern sound. "So" is really the reconciliation of all of these elements. Once again supported by guitarist David Rhodes, bassist Tony Levin, and drummer Jerry Marrotta (Larry Fast is, sadly, not to be found on this record), Gabriel augments his old team with drummer Manu Katche and guitarist/producer Daniel Lanois, and several guests, including violinist L. Shankar, drummer Stewart Copeland (of the Police), singers Youssou N'Dour, Kate Bush, and Laurie Anderson, bassist Bill Laswell, and guitarist Nile Rodgers.



The album's opener really displays the new styles here at its best-- "Red Rain" is a ballad, but it moves, its got an undercurrent of funkiness to it, similarly, "Don't Give Up" (featuring a duet with Kate Bush), again as a ballad (and a dark one) is bass driven with a funk undercurrent and gospel bridge. These two are absolutely stunning and unique in music, even to this day. While "Mercy Street" is a bit more traditional in its structure, it is another incredible ballad with a stunning vocal harmony arrangement in the chorus.



The funk elements come out stronger in a couple other (and more famous) album tracks, "Sledgehammer" and "Big Time". Modern, synth-driven in many ways, with incredible bass courtesy of Tony Levin, these two are monsters that arrived on the scene at a perfect time. My only complaint is that they, like the largely straightahead pop of "That Voice Again", are a drift, both lyrically and musically from what Gabriel excels at-- taking pain, darkness, other elements of people's lives and making them internal and personal. Look at "Don't Give Up"-- it sounds like he wrote it about himself, but its about a Depression photograph. These are great songs, but they're a bit too clean and pop for my tastes.



"We Do What We're Told" and "This is the Picture" move closer in the direction of "Security" or "3", but seem a bit unnatural given the synth layering on them.



Of course, its the album closer thats the most famous, "In Your Eyes" is really the strongest demonstration of Gabriel's world music influences on this one, its really a quite nice song, admittedly it was played into the ground for a long time. Nonethless, years later, I've been able to enjoy it.



Its a decent album. Gabriel's done better, but this might be the best place to start. However, for new fans, I'd caution listening closely to the darker material like "Mercy Street" and "Don't Give Up" and see how that suits you, its really more in line with Gabriel's other work than the pop songs are.

Don't get ripped off!

This is just a re-hash of the stereo CD, it's not "re-mastered" for multi-channel playback. You'd be much happier with Pink Floyd's 30th Anniversary Edition of the album "Dark SIde Of The Moon" or the Eagles "Hotel California" or Elton John's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"; these artists took the time and spent the money to do SACD right. Peter Gabriel is just trying to suck more money out of your pocket without any value added in return. Sure it's a slightly better recording than the original CD but certainly not worth buying again.

Gabriel Found His Inner Popstar!

Before this album Peter Gabriel had achieved a critical success by music critics. Especially, his third album is the real masterpiece. Gabriel had small but faitful fan group that bought his albums. He was some kind of cult artist that didn't want to make mainstream music.



Something changed time period from 1982 to 1986 In 1982 Gabriel released Security, which was go gold on the strength of the startling video for "Shock the Monkey." Just as his solo career was taking off, Gabriel participated in a one-shot Genesis reunion in order to finance his WOMAD - World of Music, Arts and Dance - Festival. After founding Real World, Inc. - a corporation devoted to developing bridges between technology and multiethnic arts



I believe that when Gariel was composing So's songs, he had some sort of instict to say: "these tracks good be hits!" Ok! It was only my guess because I don't know the truth. But his music really changed so much mainstream direction on the So that it couldn't be coincidence. Anyway, So sold millions copies and it had many hits("Sledgehammer" hit number one,"Big Time" reached the Top Ten and "In Your Eyes" hitted the Top 30)



Allright! Why So is more pop-tuned and mainstream album than its predecessors. Let's see! Opening track "Red Rain" is a really good exemple because it has easy listening melody and catchy chorus. "Red Rain" can call a pure pop song! "Sledgehammer" is also pop-oriented song which has also Áfrican music sounds. "Don't Give Up" is a beautiful and emotionally loaded pop-ballad. "That Voice Again" has easy accepted synth melodies and chorus. It's not surprise that "In Your Eyes was a top 30 hit because it's not irritating or hard listening song. "Big Time's" success makes me wonder because in my mind, it's too long and booring song without special hooks. Third of this album isn't mainstream material at all. "Mercy Street is a dark melody ballad that takes time to get in. In my opinion, is the best song of all album. "We Do What We're Told(Milgram's 37)" is a strange and scaring song. It reminds me Gabriel's forth album! "This Is The Picture(Excelent Birds)" sounds like early Depeche Mode.



Although So is the Gabriel's most pop-oriented and mainstream album it's my top 3 Gabriel album. First and Third are more experiental and progressive than So which I still listen most often. So is almost masterpiece but not it lacks for that status for little bit. The Unity of songs is not so perfect than third album. There are some songs that breaks entity for exemple "Big Time". I would give So 4,5 stars album, but it is not possible here(maybe someday).



Finally, So is your album who likes great pop songs made by skill and wants to listen Gabriel's most easy listening material. Many proge lovers can also likes this when their first shock reaction is over. Gabriel is a real musical camelot that doesn't make two simular albums! Long live musical genious!

Gabriel's greatest achievement!

After so many years and only two albums since then, Peter Gabriel's artistic and commercial pinnacle "So" remains my favorite album of his on so many levels.

Many seem to have labeled this album as a sellout album but those people couldn't be more wrong on that. This album is miles away from being a sellout and almost more like someone who has found his place at home. This album to me is the best example of how an artist can actually go pop, if you can call it that, but actually benefit both artistically and commercially. This album has a much earthier and much easier style to digest than his previous two albums especially his third album from 1980. It is also his most accessible album of his entire career although not necessarily his happiest album even though his most joyful and happiest songs are on here. The only really bright and sunny songs on here are "Sledgehammer" and "Big Time" but we've heard them many times so there's no need to go into them.

Most of these songs have now made it onto the "Shaking The Tree" and "Hit" collections but with the exceptions of "Red Rain" and "Big Time", they are butchered which doesn't work too well for them and thus the originals are much better. "Red Rain" is the best track on this album. For such a straight-out popular track "Red Rain" completely throws all of it's peers right into the trash can. The song is a powerful, passionate wash of synthesizers, deep melody, intense mood and a very dramatic backdrop bringing to mind images of a massive rainstorm and the sun breaking out when the song ends. To me, this song is commercial pop at it's absolute best. No one has made popular music sound so good. "Don't Give Up" is one of the most encouraging songs that I've ever listened to. Having been going through some very emotionally turbulent times recently, this song has great meaning to me. "That Voice Again" is one of the most unique sounding songs ever done, especially by 1986 standards. I really love the lyrics too plus the really unique chord changes too. I still get some chills when listening to this track.

"In Your Eyes" is one of the best love songs Gabriel has ever composed and remains so to this day. I have a lot of fond memories of hearing this track a lot back during my childhood and today it's still one of my favorite songs of his. It's an absolutely amazing song with amazing keyboards and showcases the increasing African influence which has been a part of Gabriel's music for a long time even by this point and towards the ending features Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour. In certain ways, it's nice that this track, being at the ending ends the album on a positive note but it just feels weird being at the end. I liked it much better in the middle but that's just my opinion.

"Mercy Street" is arguably one of the sexiest songs that has ever been written. Forget "Sledgehammer" MS is the best sex-song ever written even if it's not explicit at all. The song is a very hauntingly beautiful quiet storm-like track with a very dark but calm atmosphere and really amazing lyrics. The song is a tribute to the late Anne Sexton and the song is a masterpiece. I'll never forget listening to this song once during a walk many years ago.

There are two mysterious tracks that truly are just exquisite. "We Do What We're Told" spooked the daylights out of me when first listening to it. The song is a ghostly track with a dark and damp kind of "Birdy" like atmosphere like as if one were walking on the streets on a damp foggy night by the blue-white streetlights and then seeing spirits drifting overhead. This song evokes such images especially with the distant chorus singing "We Do What We're Told" and the song growing more dramatic and intense. Peter Gabriel's lines when they come in are just haunting and amazing. "This Is The Picture" also as "Excellent Birds" is a very odd and peculiar track with a slightly industrial sound and an eerie feel. In some ways, this song has a lot of the sounds that would've come from the "Birdy" soundtrack and in fact could've fit on that soundtrack too.

The remastered edition of this album cuts both ways in my opinion. The sound quality of the original older CD edition was already great to begin with especially for an album recorded in the mid 1980s but this remastered edition makes it sound even better and much better detailed too. For the SACD edition though, you need a CD player that can play SACDs because if you don't then it won't work. If you don't have one though, the regular remastered edition will do just fine. The downside unfortunately to this re-issued edition is that I for one wasn't too thrilled with "In Your Eyes" being moved to the last track position. I feel that I'm in the minority on this but I enjoyed this album ending on a mysterious note with "We Do What We're Told" and "This Is The Picture" both of which are eerie and haunting reminiscent of the darkness of "Birdy". WDWWT I feel really suffers from the track re-shuffling. This song in its new position robs this chilling classic of much of it's power. I enjoyed it in it's original position. While I take back my old comment about not wasting one's time on this remastered edition, I would NOT recommend throwing the old edition out for the two mysterious tracks I mentioned really are the best as the closer songs on this album. At the same time though, I can now appreciate the new track listing even though the original listing remains superior in my opinion.

Aside from the blunder done with the re-issuing, "So" is one of the greatest albums that has ever been put out and deserves a place in any true music fans collection. No one has ever toyed with pop music in such a sophisticated style the way Gabriel did on here.

So, brought to life

While this is not Peter Gabriel's finest album, it is certainly his most accessible, with hits "Sledgehammer," "Big Time," "In Your Eyes," and "Red Rain." Also features a re-do of Laurie Anderson's "Excellent Birds," retitled "This is the Picture." In keeping with the remastered CD collection, lyrics and photographs are included in a very nice booklet. Also in keeping with the CD reissue, "In Your Eyes" closes out the album, which is Gabriel's preferred order.

The difference in audio quality to the standard CD release is not as striking as some SACDs I've heard, but there is still enough difference to make the purchase worthwhile, especially if you haven't purchased the remastered CD version.

Please note that this is a stereo-only SACD, and requires a SACD-capable player.